140 On pure Nickel. 



The colour of pure nickel Is amean between silver and tm. 

 It is no way altered either by atmospheric air, or the, 

 xvcuer it contains. In other words, it is not susceptible of 

 being oxided by the air. 



It is so perfcctiv malleable, that it may not only be forged 

 into bars when red hot, but hammered on the anvil while 

 cold into very thin plates. This character removes nickel 

 irom the class of semi-metals to that of perfect metals. 



Its density or specific gravity is pretty considerable; from 

 repeated experiments with my hydrometer, cast nickel 

 weighs 8-279, and forged nickel 8'66<5. 



Its teiiaritv is likewise considerable, if we may judge from 

 its great ductility. A piece of cast nickel, weighing five 

 drachms alloweditself to be flattened, but not without crack- 

 ing, into a plate of 13 square inches Rhynland measure, 

 which gives less than -yi-p of an inch for its thickness. It 

 might probably he drawn into a wire of the same tenuity. 



The resistance of nickel to fusion is considerable, and 

 equals, if it does not surpass, that of manganese. The reader, 

 from my attempts to fuse it, may have observed how 

 difficult it is to obtain on this head any thing decisive. 



When exposed to a sufficiently high temperature, the pure 

 oxide of nickel is reducible without the addition of any 

 con)bustible matter. Its great resistance to fusion is the 

 only cause why this reduction presents so many difficulties. 

 Verv little oxidation, too, is perceptible on keeping this 

 metal in a state of incandescence ; it is merely tarnished a 

 little more than platiua, gold, or silver. Nickel, therefore, 

 belongs not to the class of perfect metals merely, but to 

 that of noble metals. 



The magnet exercises on nickel an action not only 

 very considerable, but little inferior to that on iron. It be- 

 cow)es magnetical, or acquires polarltv, by the touch, and 

 even in pari by striking it with a hammer, or filing it, 

 with the precautions suitable for producing this effect-. I 

 discovered the latter property by presenting to the magnet 

 a slip of forged nickel; when, notwithstanding it was 

 polished bv the file, it adhered more feebly to the magnet 

 than other slips less polished; but on mv presenting it* 

 other extremity to the magnet, it adhered to it with great 

 force. It likewise attracted by either side not only iron 

 needles, but plates of nickel half an inch square, which it 

 caused to move about on a smooth table. 



jN'itkel does not lose its property of becoming magnetic, 

 but has it weakened bv being alloyed with copper. Arsenic, 

 hpwever, completely destroys it. I had frequent opportu- 

 nities 



